🔗 Share this article

Ex-President Trump remarked on Sunday that he is not seriously planning sending Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk missiles. In response to a query by a journalist aboard Air Force One, he answered, “No, not at the moment.” Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. stockpiles of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukraine's Defense Efforts Persist Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukraine has been seeking Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching attacks against Russia, it has still managed to conduct a effective operation using its own unmanned aerial vehicles and rockets against Russian military and strategic objectives, such as oil depots and processing plants. This past Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Moscow officials. Adjacent airfields in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkish Oil Plants Turn to Non-Russian Crude Sources

Ankara's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in response to the latest international sanctions on Moscow, as reported by market sources. The country is a significant purchaser of oil from Russia, along with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are following India's lead in cutting back imports.

STAR Refinery Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refining plants, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently acquired multiple cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakhstan, and additional non-Russian producers for December arrival, as per sources. This amount to approximately tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian supply, depending on shipment volume. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the STAR refinery's crude intake in October and September, amounting to about 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR refused to provide a statement.

Tupras Also Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other leading Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was additionally raising acquisitions of alternative grades of crude, according to two sources. Tupras was furthermore expected to in the near future completely phase out imports from Russia at a key facility of its primary major domestic plants to continue fuel exports to the EU without breaching the EU’s incoming sanctions. The refiner declined to comment to a inquiry for a statement.

Ukrainian Deploys Elite Units to Eastern City

Kyiv has deployed elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an intense Moscow's assault comprising thousands of troops, according to Ukraine's top military leader. The city, called “the gateway to Donetsk,” is located on a major logistical line for the Kyiv's military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a twelve months as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Recent Developments in the City

No fewer than 200 Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its perimeter in a encircling movement. In his evening speech on this past Sunday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Enhanced Air Defense System

The president, who has been pushing his partners for more air defense systems to counter Moscow's attacks, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We've boosted the Patriot component of our national air defense,” he declared, mentioning the sophisticated American defense systems. Not offering further information, the Ukraine's president singled out Germany and its chancellor, the German chancellor, for thanks.

Moscow's Strikes Kill Civilians, Cut Power

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles targeting Ukrainian territory killed no fewer than six individuals, including 2 children, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials reported on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, according to the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The children were male minors of ages 11 and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut power to the whole eastern Donetsk area as well as almost 58,000 homes in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their governors announced. The Vostok army group said a number of its members were killed in one of the Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk.